Oct. 10, 2013

Written by

Brian Haas

The Tennessean

A student walks in front of Gillette Hall dormitory located on Vanderbilt University's campus off of Horton Avenue on Sept. 4, 2013. An unconscious student was allegedly was raped in Gillette Hall on June 23. / Amanda Rhein / File / The Tennessean

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Vanderbilt University has suspended the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity for a rush-related email making light of an ongoing rape case.

The profanity-laced and sexually charged email was sent out Sept. 22 to prospective members of the fraternity and was eventually brought to the university’s attention. The university — and Alpha Tau Omega’s national office — suspended the Vanderbilt chapter on Oct. 3.

“The suspension prohibits all ATO activities, including new member education activities,” said Beth Fortune, vice chancellor for public affairs at the university, in an email. “The action was taken because of offensive content throughout the message as well as allegations of multiple violations of university and Interfraternity Council policies.”

The university declined to identify the student who sent the email due to privacy rules. The student was also suspended from the fraternity.

The explicit email described a debauched, alcohol-fueled fraternity-sorority party and went on to list upcoming events, including a football-viewing party.

“This will be a rape-free event, I promise,” the email read. “Football is safe again.”

The university called the email shocking.

“It conveys a message that is reprehensible in its disrespect for women and is not representative of the Vanderbilt University student body or the values that we uphold as a community,” Fortune wrote.

Four former Vanderbilt football players — Brandon Vandenburg, 20, from Indio, Calif.; Cory Batey, 19, of Nashville; Brandon Eric Banks, 19, from Brandywine, Md.; and Jaborian McKenzie, 18, from Woodville, Miss. — are each charged with five counts of aggravated rape and two counts of aggravated sexual battery in connection with the rape of an underage student in a dormitory. Vandenburg also is charged with one count of unlawful photography and tampering with evidence.

The four are scheduled to appear in court Wednesday for a hearing in the case.